Polyester compositions for appearance parts

Abstract

Polyester compositions which contain a copolymer of ethylene, an acrylate ester, and carbon monoxide and optionally a fibrous filler having a relatively small diameter are particularly suitable for parts whose surface appearance is important, such as appliance panels and automobile body panels.

1 . An appearance part, comprising a composition comprising a blend of: 
 (a) a minor part by weight of a copolymer consisting essentially of repeat units derived from ethylene, a compound of the formula H 2 C═CHCO 2 R 1  (I), and carbon monoxide, wherein R 1  is an alkyl group containing 1 to 6 carbon atoms, and said ethylene-derived repeat units are about 49 to about 57 weight percent of said copolymer, (I)-derived repeat units are about 33 to about 40 weight percent of said copolymer, and carbon monoxide-derived repeat units are about 10 to about 14 weight percent of said copolymer;    (b) a major part by weight of an isotropic semicrystalline copolyester; and    (c) 2 to about 25 weight percent of a short fiber having a diameter of about 6 μm or less, wherein said weight percent is based on the total amount of (a), (b) and (c) present; and    wherein the major and minor parts by weight are based on the total amount of (a) and (b) present.    
   
   
       2 . The appearance part as recited in  claim 1  wherein said copolymer (a) is about 1 to about 35 weight percent of the total of (a) and (b) present.  
   
   
       3 . (canceled)  
   
   
       4 . The appearance part as recited in  claim 2  wherein R 1  is ethyl or n-butyl.  
   
   
       5 . The appearance part as recited in  claim 2  wherein said short fiber has a number average length of about 20 μm or less.  
   
   
       6 . The appearance part as recited in  claim 2  wherein an average aspect ratio of said short fiber is about 3 to about 50, and said short fiber has a number average length of about 0.5 μm to about 10 μm, and said short fiber is about 5 to about 25 percent by weight of the total amount of (a), (b) and (c) present.  
   
   
       7 . The appearance part as recited in  claim 2  wherein said short fibers are wollastonite.  
   
   
       8 . The appearance part as recited in  claim 1  wherein said semicrystalline polyester is a poly(alkylene terephthalate).  
   
   
       9 . The appearance part as recited in  claim 8  wherein said poly(alkylene terephthalate) is poly(ethylene terephthalate) or poly(1,4-butylene terephthalate).  
   
   
       10 . (canceled)  
   
   
       11 . The appearance part as recited in  claim 1  which is painted.  
   
   
       12 . The appearance part as recited in  claim 1  which is pigmented.  
   
   
       13 . (canceled)  
   
   
       14 . (canceled)  
   
   
       15 . (canceled)  
   
   
       16 . (canceled)  
   
   
       17 . (canceled)  
   
   
       18 . The appearance part of  claim 1  which is an automotive body panel.  
   
   
       19 . The appearance part of  claim 18  which is at least partly painted.  
   
   
       20 . The appearance part of  claim 19  which is painted on line.  
   
   
       21 . The appearance part of  claim 1  which is part of an appliance, power tool, electronic device, furniture, reflector, or toy.  
   
   
       22 . The appearance part of  claim 21  which is at least partly painted.